Page 19 - ARUBA TODAY

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SPORTS Friday 29 September 2017
Americans take another early lead in Presidents Cup

By DOUG FERGUSON wind that Adam Scott hit
AP Golf Writer a tee shot that sailed over
JERSEY CITY, N.J. (AP) — A the green into a hazard,
memorable start that fea- while Spieth in the match
tured the previous three behind him came up some
U.S. presidents on the first 60 feet short of the hole in
tee ended with a familiar a bunker.
result in the Presidents Cup. Johnson and Kuchar didn’t
The Americans are out to make a single bogey, re-
another big lead in the markable in the format
event they haven’t lost in and in the wind, and they
nearly two decades. still didn’t take the lead
PGA champion Justin until Johnson’s tee shot on
Thomas made his profes- the par-3 16th with a strong
sional team debut with wind at his back stopped 5
a short day of work as he feet away. Scott came up
and Rickie Fowler lost only short, and then missed a
two holes in a 6-and-4 vic- 6-foot par putt. Scott and
tory. Jordan Spieth holed a Jhonattan Vegas never
35-foot putt that sent him caught up.
and Patrick Reed to an- “In alternate shot, in these
other victory. Dustin John- conditions, not to make
son and Matt Kuchar re- a bogey and for us to just
mained unbeaten. Former U.S. Presidents, from left, Barack Obama, George Bush and Bill Clinton greet spectators on win 1 up, that’s a heck of
The Americans won the the first tee before the first round of the Presidents Cup at Liberty National Golf Club in Jersey City, a battle that we had with
opening session for the N.J., Thursday, Sept. 28, 2017. Associated Press those guys,” Kuchar said.
sixth straight time in the Leishman was playing with
Presidents Cup and built a then posing with the tro- challenged. on their way. his sixth partner in his last six
3 1/2-1 1/2 lead Thursday phy, the players and their Spieth and Reed improved Johnson and Kuchar are Presidents Cup matches.
after the opening four- wives. to 6-1-2 as a tandem in the unbeaten in four matches He and Day were 1 up with
somes matches. “I was looking forward to Presidents Cup and Ryder together, and they had to two holes to play when
Phil Mickelson, playing in this Presidents Cup for a Cup. They won four straight be at their best. Leishman missed the fair-
his 23rd consecutive team very long time, and I didn’t holes early in the match The gusts topped 20 mph way on the 17th hole and
competition, ended the expect all the presidents to against International rook- and felt even stronger on they made bogey. On the
tough, wind-swept after- be there,” Charl Schwartz- ies Si Woo Kim and Emiliano exposed areas of Liberty 18th, Mickelson went over
noon at Liberty National el of South Africa said. Grillo. And when the match National, which sits across the green in a swale, while
by missing an 8-foot par “Just to get to meet them looked as if it had a chance New York Harbor from Man- Day came up short. Both
putt, or the U.S. lead would was a dream come true for to get tight, Spieth rolled in hattan. The par-3 10th hole teams made bogey for the
have been even greater. me. Then to hit that first tee his big putt and they were was so difficult to judge the halve..q
He and Kevin Kisner were shot with the wind pump-
1 down with two holes re- ing off the right was quite
maining to Jason Day and intimidating.”
Marc Leishman, so a half- The Americans have a 9-1-
point wasn’t bad. 1 lead in the series, their
Mickelson’s only complaint lone loss in 1998 at Royal
was that he botched his Melbourne a few weeks
selfie with former Presidents before Christmas. Located in the Riu Antilles Resort (Formerly the Westin Resort)
Bill Clinton, George W. Bush Nick Price, back as Inter- FREE TRANSPORTATION TO THE CASINO FROM ALL
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For the most part, every- to panic. The Americans
thing else went the Ameri- opened a 4-1 lead after
cans’ way. the opening session two LIVE POKER
The lone bright spot for the years ago in South Korea,
International team was and that came down to GAMES START 8 PM TO THE WEE HOURS
Louis Oosthuizen and Bran- the final match.
den Grace, who improved “We always get ourselves
to 5-0 as a tandem. The behind a little bit in alter- 1-2.....2-5......5-5 1-3.....2-5......5-5
South African duo pulled nate shot,” Day said. “It
away for a 3-and-1 victory would have been nice to $100 HIGH HAND BONUSES EVERY HOUR
over U.S. Open champion be 3-2, but once again, OVER $20,000 PER WEEK GIVEN OUT IN HIGH HAND BONUSES
Brooks Koepka and Daniel we’re not that far behind.
Berger. The American side is very, CRAPS
The stars on this day didn’t very talented and stacked.
hit a shot. But I think our team and our ONLY CASINO IN ARUBA TO OFFER 3, 4 & 5 TIME ODDS
The leader of every coun- boys are ready to rally be-
try where the Presidents hind everyone, and hope-
Cup is held are invited to fully we can finish strong SPORTSBOOK
be honorary chairman, but later on in the week.”
this was a first — three U.S. Fowler holed a 70-foot LIVE SIMULCAST OF ALL MAJOR TRACKS
presidents together at this pitch and Thomas followed THROUGHOBRED AND HARNESS
event, sitting together in with a 12-foot birdie, and
a box on the first tee and they were never seriously